NOTES: THEATRE
Introduction to Humanities
John Chiappone
 

The word derives from the Ancient Greek theatron (θέατρον), meaning "the seeing place". It’s where the audience sits.
 
1. TRAGEDY    2. COMEDY    3. TRAGICOMEDY    4. MELODRAMA    5. PERFORMANCE ART
 

1. TRAGEDY – unhappy ending (p136)
Poetics by Aristotle - Translated by S. H. Butcher (e-book)
Hero’s flaw
Destiny / freewill

2. COMEDY – (Greek word komoidia)
Comedy of Character – satire / ridicule of individuals (The Clouds by Aristophanes, 446? BC-385? BC)
Comedy of manners – Satire / ridicule of conventions

3. TRAGICOMEDY -

4. MELODRAMA - Predominance of plot and action over characterization. Good triumphs at the last minute.

5. PERFORMANCE ART (Happenings) - Pop art in the 60's. Critique over commercialism. DADA - controversial rebellion. Play example.

CREATIVE ASSIGNMENT:

Read page 139, and apply the concepts of a plot to your life.

See My Dinner with Andre (X). Ask yourself: What's my motivation? Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I come from? Where am I going? Quote: "A person can be said to be three things: Who she thinks she is, who others think she is, and who she really is."

PLOT - p134
Timeline / Structure
Climatic Pyramid (see figure 5.1)

1. EXPOSITION - Background information.
Citizen Kane abandoned chronological order.
Life begins as a blank slate. You gather information about yourself, and tell others about yourself (Jung refers to this as wearing masks).|

2. COMPLICATION - Conflict
Leaving the nest.
Climax

3. DENOUEMENT - Resolution

STAGE TYPES: (p141)

LIGHTING (P143)
Chiaroscuro

COSTUME DESIGN (p143)
Lion King

PROTAGONIST - Main Character

VERISIMILITUDE -
French Academy of Languages censured drama and literature.
True to life - as things could happen - not did happen (Titanic)
Moral with no surprises
No violence onstage